Automate mass download and installation of software

rafspeik

Honorable
Apr 14, 2013
5
0
10,510
Hi there,
I recently had to reinstall Windows 8 for multiple reasons and I have a few hundred (yeah I know) programs that I had to reinstall. As I was doing this I was of course very bored so my mind was wondering and I ended up thinking about the inconceivable amount of things that are possible with modern computing and then suddenly thought would it be possible to automate all of this?
As I can't be bothered to make a list of my software I have a folder with 200+ software installation executables. A lot of these are out of date as I installed the programs and saved the files a long time ago and that was it because most programs update themselves nowadays.

This is my question: would it be possible to somehow automate (batch?) the downloading and installation of these few hundred programs?
 
Solution
If you keep all the install files, you could theoretically create a batchfile or powershell script to do it.
But for any commercial applications...the actual URL where they store the download may change, and then for many you have to enter a serial number, etc.
And for others, you have to deselect the stupid default toolbars, etc.

rafspeik

Honorable
Apr 14, 2013
5
0
10,510


Yeah ninite is great, but they don't support a lot of the software I use.
 

USAFRet

Illustrious
Moderator


Right. But getting your personal software stack would be problematic.
 

rafspeik

Honorable
Apr 14, 2013
5
0
10,510


So there isn't any way for me to find the links to download all my software and have it installed? Or even just download all the latest installers for my software then I install it myself?
 

USAFRet

Illustrious
Moderator
If you keep all the install files, you could theoretically create a batchfile or powershell script to do it.
But for any commercial applications...the actual URL where they store the download may change, and then for many you have to enter a serial number, etc.
And for others, you have to deselect the stupid default toolbars, etc.
 
Solution

rafspeik

Honorable
Apr 14, 2013
5
0
10,510


OK. That's a shame. Thanks for you help though!